Instructions

Pinch the bottom of the cone together and have a friend pour salt into it.

Let the pendulum go. Watch it makes designs. Do you notice anything about the designs?

Do you know why pendulums swing back and forth? Let us know.

You can also send us your pictures or video of this ZOOMsci: ZOOMsci ZOOM Box 350 Boston, MA 02134

Shakiyla, age 11 of Kansas City, KS wrote:
WHEN I TRIED THE SALT PENDELUM IT WORKED JUST AS I THOUGHT IT WOULD WORK. IT EVEN MADE THE LETTER Z AND THE LETTER V.

Jazzy R., age 10 of Ocoee, FL wrote:
When I did the salt pendulum, it made all kinds of designs, and they're really cool.

Gracie H., age 11 of Dousman, WI wrote:
I heaven't done this expirement yet, but in science class we are learning about pendulums! I know that the wheight on the end doesn't change the speed of the pendulum, but the lenght of the string does! If the string is shorter, then the pendulum moves faster. I also learned that if you keep a long pendulum moveing for a really long time, that after a while, if you started out swinging it horizontally, it'll wind up swinging vericly! Thats because the earth is moveing. (Revolving) Wierd huh! I hope I didn't write to much! This project will work well for extra credit! Thank you Zoom!

Tara B., age 13 of Lake Odessa, MI wrote:
My brother and I did it a little differently we put down colored paper and then did it, when we were cleaning up my brother started to write his name and stuff and on the colored paper it looked kinda cool!

Xoche O., age 12 of Ogden, UT wrote:
It worked great. I loved the shapes!!!

Courtnie wrote:
I tried this and it was so cool. Once I did it I wanted to keep it so I put glue on the paper. So now I still have it and I just love it.

Stephanie P., age 10 of Surrey, BC wrote:
When I did it, it just made a line then it stoped.

Andrea D. of Farmington Hills, MI wrote:
It made a big mess, but it was still a lot of fun! Mine made really cool designs!

Jessica, age 13 of Parkersburg, WV wrote:
It looks like that pendulum time keeper in the COSI in Columbus Ohio. It is ssoooooo cool.

Megan L., age 8 of Grove City, OH wrote:
We tryed but it just made a big GLOB.